1 dead in car crash, fire near Lincoln City

A passenger of a white 15-passenger van is dead after the van crashed into several trees and caught fire early Tuesday, officials said. (Oregon State Police)

Update: The passenger who died in the crash has been identified as 27-year-old Austin Mayhak, of Union Gap, Wash., Oregon State Police said in a news release Wednesday morning. The driver has been identified as Shaypher Lee Hendricks, 22, of Ellensburg, Wash.

A passenger in a white 15-passenger van was killed early Tuesday when the vehicle crashed into several trees and caught fire, officials said.

Oregon State Police and other agencies responded to Oregon 18 north of Lincoln City, Sgt. Kyle Hove said in a news release.

The driver was taken to North Lincoln Hospital, then flown to Legacy Emmanuel in Portland with serious injuries, Hove said. The front-seat passenger was found dead in the burned van.

Alcohol may have been a contributing factor in the crash, Hove said.

The highway was closed for about eight hours but opened briefly a few times to allow commercial vehicles through, he said.

The crash remains under investigation, and the victims will be identified after next of kin are notified, Hove said.